Ladder construction



Patented Aug. 7, 1945 UNITED STATES s PATENT GFFICE LADDER CONSTRUCTIONHerman H. Gumz, Newark, N. J. I Application November 10, 1943, SerialNo. 509,665

2 Claims. n (Cl. 228-58) It is the principal object ofv my invention toprovide a round or rung structure with which a ladder may be quicklybuilt .or manufactured at extremely low cost, at the same time attaininga ladder .which is much stronger than ladders of the usual constructionwhere holes are bored through the side members to receive the rungs.

y My invention will be clearly understood by reference to the annexeddrawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view of one of the side members of a ladder having one formof rung attachment applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a top view of the structure shown in Figure 1. l

Figure 3 isla modiiied form of construction as applied'to the oppositeside member of a ladder.

Figure 4 is a View ofv the attachment used in Figure 3 looking fromright' to left on a reduced scale.

Figure 5 shows a further modied form of construction. f

In the different views wherein like numbers refer to correspondingparts, I isy the rung or round ofa ladder (Websters InternationalDictionary denes the rung as the round of a` ladder) which is a tubemade of thin metal either of the butted, Welded or seamless type. Also,the outer periphery of the tube may be provideddirectly or indirectly,with a friction surface. To the opposite ends of the tube is welded, asat 2, an

' attachment 3 normally in the form of a metal plate having its oppositeends 4 and`5 extending, before bending, at right angles to the axis ofthe tube I, and these ends are bent over as indicated in Figures 1 and2te engage parts of a ladder While the other .lip engages the oppositeor back edge of the member I I. The fitting 3 in this case screws o rnails as in Figures l and 2.

In Figure 5 the extending ends of the tting 3 are adapted to bent on anarc around a circular side member I2 which may be flattened off alongone side or at places corresponding to the vposition of the rungs inorder to receive the vsurface of the flat plate 3. Nails or screws maybe used for fastening the parts 4 and 5 to the member I2.

The rung structure as described may be Amade in large quantities andsold to a ladder manu- -facturer or -to the user ofa ladder who mayreadily construct his own ladder; and, as heretofore pointed out, sincethe side members of the ladder do not have to be boredout for the rungs,a much stronger ladder can be made as the metal attachment pieces 3 addmaterially to the strength of the ladder, especially in the form shownin Figures 2 and 4.

What I claim is:

l. A ladder rung as set forth in claim 2, further defined in that theplate Aends are bent on diagonals. so that one bent end may engage oneedge of the ladder side member, Whilethe other,

bent end may engage the opposite edge, the portions vof the side memberengaged by said bent ends extending a considerable distance from theaxis of the rung.

2. For use in building strong Work ladders having single side members, arung composed of a stiff steel tube `having ilat metal plates securelyWelded, one at each end of the tube, the plates extending a considerabledistance in two opposite directions beyond the tube, whereby 'arelatively large area of the same side ,of the side member may beengaged by the ends when straight, or the extending ends of each platemay be bent over or around oppositeportions of one of the single sideladder members for substantial distances, and holes in said ends for usein fastening them to their respective side member.

HERMAN H. GUMZ.

